National Night Out Returns In 2024 With Events In PWC, Manassas Area

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park residents will be encouraged to turn on their porch lights and spend time outdoors with neighbors during the returning National Night Out.

The National Night Out event, which seeks to stand up to crime, promote safe neighborhoods and boost relationships between law enforcement and the community, will happen on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Prince William County Police will not hold an official event but will visit events around the county. According to the police department, National Night Out "creates healthy neighborhoods block by block by helping neighbors know one another, celebrate community, and take steps to make neighborhoods safer for all residents." Residents can check with their neighborhoods for National Night Out plans.

In the Town of Dumfries, join the National Night Out event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 17749 Main St, Dumfries, VA. There will be giveaways, a tour of a police cruiser, a petting zoo, games, face paint and more.

In the City of Manassas, police will hold an event from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Manassas Museum lawn, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas, VA. The event will include police demonstrations, activities, food and vendors.

In Manassas Park, the National Night Out event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Signal Hill Park, 9300 Signal View Drive, Manassas Park, VA. There will be local, state and federal law enforcement vehicles and static displays, civic outreach programs, free food, activities and more. Free admission to the Signal Bay Waterpark will be offered from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In between National Night Out, Prince William County Police will participate in National Night Out Storytime at libraries, including Dumfries Library on Aug. 1, Haymarket Gainesville Library on Aug. 2, Montclair Library on Aug. 5, Lake Ridge Library on Aug. 6, Potomac Library on Aug. 8 and Nokesville Library on Aug. 9.

This is the 41st year of National Night Out, which is typically held on the first Tuesday of August. First started in 1984 in about 400 communities, National Night Out now draws an estimated 17,000 communities with millions of neighbors. Events may take the form of block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and other neighborhood-based events, according to National Night Out's website.